Design dyeing apparatus



P 9, 1952 s. B. SCHWARTZ ETAL 2,609,747

DESIGN DYEING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 26, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

FIG. 5

INVENTORS.

S. B. SCHWARTZ ATTORNEY Sept. 9, 1952 s. B. SCHWARTZ EIAL 2,609,747

DESIGN DYEING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 26, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG- 2 4 INVENTORS. 4 S. B- SCHWARTZ y R. D. BLUM, JR.

ATTORNEY P 9, 1952 s. B. SCHWARTZ EI'AL 2,509,747

DESIGN DYEING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 26, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet s V INVENTORS. 9 S- B- SCH TZ y R. D BL JR.

Patented Sept. 9, 1952 DESIGN DYEING APPARATUS Shepard B. Schwartz and Robert D. Blum, Jr.,

I Nashville, Tenn., assignors to May Hosiery Mills, Nashville, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Application November 26, 1947, Serial No. 788,185

' chinery int-the: production thereof. wordsptheuse of apluralityof colors in a design This invention relates to ornamentation and more particularly to design dyeing and apparatus for-accomplishing the same.

One specific use of the invention is the application of asingle or multicolored design for purposes of ornamentation to finished or fabricated textiles suchJas for example to hosiery or the like. The method does not pertain to woven piece goods which is printed continuously by such means as roller printing with intaglio cylinders.

ornamentation has been accomplished in many ways including the printing of designs on piece goods and on'some finished articlessuch as n blouses-T shirts, overalls and the like. However,

this type ofrornamentation has either been very limited asto color and durability, or has required the-use of much skilled labor or expensive ma- In other I designs which. have beenknittedinto the hosiery. This is a Very costly process, requiring the use of special coloredyarns'in knitting, and requiring special machinery. The designs possible by this method ar'e'extremely limited due to the inherent limitations :of knitting machines. Intricate and sharpdesigns are not "possible by this method. Further, the design has not been permanent when applied by. a thermoplastic :or thermosetting transfer, whichris inexpensive. Alsoythe application of a design:to finished or fabricated articles of. textile apparel has not been adapted to low cost quantity production; being accomplished: by manual operations using thescreen process or the like. Theroller printing process,

. utilizing the sameitypes of dyes or printing pastes asapplicants process is:not adaptable to finished or fabricated articles of textile apparel, such as hosiery 'Initial cost of machinery and engraving of intaglio cylinder'sprecludes practicability of utilizing this process for fabricated textiles such ashosiery where yardage is small compared to. that normallyt run-on one design on piece goods. Also :the roller 1 processhas 211013, been adapted-t mechanically; for ,the printing of fabricated articles such as; hosierytbut .is utilized, exs us ve y. in: t e Printing o piece goods 1 0011+ ti f a a iqima 1 l A pli ants app atus: h b V p cifi ally 'eatedfor-application of a single or multicolored teen h sist a t i ide that the ap l set up toplapply a two-acolor' pan'ying drawings, wherein:

9 Claims." (01. 101-115) .dye, may be incorporated in the printing paste,

or a pigmented oil-in-water or water-in-oil two phase emulsion, .withresin binder, may be uti lized. ,These printing pastes are well known to those skilled in the art of textile printing. Consequently theresulting product is completely wash fast and the design will retain substantially its originalbrilliance and character throughout the lifeof the fabric It is an object. of the invention to provide a I simple and inexpensive apparatus for design dye,- ingand employing a multiplicity of colors which may easily be, varied and in which the articles are dried prior to the application of each succeedingcolor.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide apparatus for design dyeing in which means is provided for properly initially positioning the articles relative to the apparatus and withmeans for automatically obtaining correct registration of the various colored portions of the design.

. A further object of the invention is to" provide an apparatus for design dyeing of articles particularly hosiery and utilizing flexible, fine mesh screening, the design portionof which is open and the remaining portion covered with a material impervious to i the. printing paste and through: which designlportionlthe dye or? color pastels applied tothe product. i 1 Fur'therobjects and advantages of the invention Willabe apparent 1 from r the following description taken in conjunction with the accom- Fig. lis an'elevationalview of the apparatus of this invention and showing particularly the means for raising the fabricmaterial into'engagement with the dye applying means and-the controls thereof l l Fig. 2, a planview of theapparatds-of Fig. 1 design to opposi sides of thepfcuflof a sock'; c i ,Fig. 3,.a planview of. the sock receiving and supporting means;

Fig. ,4, anexploded perspective view-showing beyond the circumference.

the screen carrying a design and the supporting framework therefor;

Fig. 5, a perspective view of a limit switch forming part of the control circuit with the case partially broken away and with parts omitted for greater clarity;

Fig. 6, a perspective view of the details of the foot operated control switch;

Fig. 7, a perspective view showing a sock receiving and supporting member with a sock ap-' plied thereto;

Fig. 8, a side elevation of a sock having a partially completed design in one color thereon; and,

upstanding tubular member i3 within which is rotatably and slidably'receiveda sleeve [4, which sleeve projects a short distance below the lower end of member lS as indicated at l'5. Sleeve H! is in turn slidably received-on a vertical rod I5 'adjustably secured at its lower end in collar I? by a set screw 18, collar I? being supported by the lower cross braces t2.

Secured to the upper endof' sleeve 14 and supported thereby is a circular disc or table indicated generally at l9. Table is is provided with a plurality of boards or paddles 730 secured to "the top surface thereof as-by rivets'Z-l or other suitable securing means and extending radially 'These paddles are readily removable and interchangeable with various sizes and shapes, permitting the use of same equipment for any size *of hosiery and-the application of thedesign to any desired partof the article by'change of shape. Boards serve to receive socks or the like which may be stretched over the outerend thereof as shown in detail in Fig. '7. Boards 20 may also be provided :with a colored band or the like 22 to indicate the position which the edge of the sock should occupy when placed thereover. 7

Located above table ['9 in parallel relation thereto and supported on the upper end of rod I6 is a .plate 23 which serves to supportdye applying means, indicated generally at 24. Dye applying means 2 1 may conveniently take the form of a rectangular frame 25, the bottom opening of which is closed :by a fine mesh screen -523. Screen 26' may be best formed of silk or steel wire but obviously any other suitable material may be. employed. This screen must have sufii cient tensile strength'and resistance'to wear to afford long lifebutmust also possess sufiicient flexibility to conform to. irregularities in the surface of the fabric material to which a design is to be applied. The inner surface of screen ZSis coated with a material impervious to the dye bethe desired number of colors, one dye applying means being used to. apply eachjcolor.

As shown in Fig. 2, four'dye applying means apparatus as shown in Fig. 2 being designed to apply a two color design to opposite sides of the cuff of a sock. Dye applying means 24 are supported at their outer ends by diagonal braces 28 extending downwardly to the legs II and are adjustable in a horizontal plane to provide for positioning for registration and in a vertical plane to provide for the proper pressure .of the screen against the garment.

Also supported on plate 23 are a plurality of blowers 29 which are adapted to blow warm air through pipes 30 provided with nozzles 3| directed downwardly over the sock receiving boards 20 to facilitate drying of the design. In the present embodiment two blowers are shown but obviously any number in accordance with the number of colors being applied may be used.

In order to raise sock receiving boards 20 and a sock thereon into engagement with the lower surface of screen 2i: there is provided a lever 32 pivoted at 33 to one of the cross braces 12. The inner end of lever 32 is providedwith a yoke'having rollers 34 mountedthereon, which rollers :engage the shoulders 35-and 36 of a collari3=1secured to the lower end of sleeve I 5 and slidably onrod 1'6. Lever 32 mayconveniently beactuated by an air cylinder 38 secured to the frame of the machine by .a bracket :39, air cylinder 38 containing a piston having a connecting rod '40 pivotallyand slidably attached at H to -the-..outer -end-of lever 32. Air may :be admitted to cylinder 38adjacent the upper end thereof through apipe A2 to move the piston and connecting rod '40 downwardly,

, thus moving the inner end of lever 32, collar 34,

sleeve [4, table 19 and boards 20 upwardly 'to engage socks on boards 29 with the lower surface ofscreen 25. i

High pressure air may :be supplied to pipe 4-2 andcylinder 38 .througha pipe 43 leading from a high pressure source and this pipe is provided with a shut-off valve 44 which may :be closedav'hen the apparatus is notin use. Locatedin-apipefl :is a solenoidoperated valve 45 whichserves to admit air through a T connection 46 170 pipe '42. Com municating with the other outlet of the "T- connection 4B is a second :solenoid operated valve 41, the outlet 28 of which communicates with :the atmosphere. Valve 41 andaoutlet 48 serve-torelease air pressure'withinthe cylinder l8. .In-"operation when it is desired to :raise table 19 and boards :29, exhaust valve 4:! is closed and inlet valve 45 islopened to :admit air to cylinde 38 and when it is desired .to .lower table .lls inlet valve 45 is closed and exhaust-valv 451 isopend to release air from cylinder '38.

Valves '45 and 41 are controlled by a footoperated switch 49 which, :asbest shown iniEig. 6, may take'the form of two fixed contacts 50 .and 5G and a' movable contact 51-. Contact 15] is pivotallymounted at 52 :in the wall I53 'ofthecasing Surrounding switch 49 andcontactfil is actuated by a foot pedal :54 extending to a position vconvenient to the operator. Y 1

In order that valves 1 35 aud t will not bezactuated .and the table 19 raised when not in proper position forthesocks to engage screens 26, there is provided a limit switch-55 mountedzbeneaththe table l9 and shown in detail in '5. Switch 55 may well comprise a fixed contact 56 and a movable contact 5? actuated "by a shaft 58 and arm 5!: filw itch 55 i's normally' held in op'en position by a spring -69. 'or'cler toactuatef-sv'ritch 55 there is provided'on the'bdttom' of' table 19 a plurali'ty ofdownwardly extending pins 6'! ,these pins being positioned inwardly of'thei boards 20 and there being one pin corresponding to each board. In operation, as the table I9 and boards are rotated to bring a sock beneath the screen 26 one of the pins 6| will contact the curved portion 62 of arm 59 on the switch 55 to close the switch. I I r I In order that the valves and 41 will be controlled in such manner that valve 41 is open and valve 45 is closed in; the upposition of pedal 54 and that valve 41 will be closed and valve 45 open in the down position of pedal 54, the circuit for control of these valves is so arranged that fixed contact together with movable contact 5 I loontrols the application of voltage from a source of electrical current provided by cable 63 to the valve 41 whereby when the pedal 54 is in the up positionvalve 41 will be energized and remain open. Fixed contact 50 in conjunction with movable contact 5| isfconnected in such manner that voltage from the cable 63 will be applied to energize valve 45 and open the same when the pedal 54 is depressed. Limit switch 55, described above, is connected in series with the sourceofelectrical current, valve 45 and fixed contact 50 in order that the table I9 will not be raised unless it is located in proper position sinceif the limit switch is open and the pedal 54 is depressed, no voltage may be applied to the va1ve45, the application of voltage thereto only being possible when theswitch 55 is in closed position. It is therefore apparent that means has been provided to raise and lower table I9 in accordance with the desires of the operator by merely actuating pedal 54 and that further means has been provided to insure that the table I9 will be in'proper position prior to raising thereof. Switch 64 is provided to open the circuit in the source of electricalcurrent during periods inwhich the machine is out of operation. 1

In order to insure that paddles 20 and socks mounted thereon will be in proper position to receive an impression from the screens 26 and to further insure that proper registry of the various colored portions of the design will be obtained, there is provided in the table I9 a series of apertures 65, there being one aperture for each of the boards 20. Secured to the plate 23 and extendingdownwardly therefrom is a tapered pin 66 which is so positioned as to enter one of the apertures 65 when the table I9 is properly positioned an operator places the sockon board 20 at station A as shown in Fig. 2 with the sock occupying a position as indicatedbythe band 22 on board 20 Table I 9 and boards 20 are rotatedin aclockwise direction until the sock placed in position 'at station A is located under the screen 26 at station B. At this time foot pedal54 is depressed to raise the sockinto engagement with the lower surface of screen 26 whereupon a squeegee 61 is drawn lengthwise of the screen to force dye deposited thereon through the design portion 21 and apply this design to the sock. The design appliedat stationB may well be the first color of a design,'as illustrated inFig. 8. Upon completion of the operation'at station B, the table I9 is moved clockwise to bring; the sockjustgdyed beneath the nozzle 3I of pipe 30 at station C whereupon warm air-passes over thefdesignf to dry the dyedepositedon the sock. At the same time, of course, a design is applied to the following sock at station B. The sock at station C is next moved to station D whereupon the remaining color of the two color design is applied in-a manner similar to that at station B, resulting in a complete design as illustrated in Fig. 9.

At the completion of the operation at station D, the sock is moved to station E at which point an operator reversesthe sock on board 20 to bring the lower side uppermost. The sock is then moved around to station F, at which point the first color of the design is applied, this color being dried at station G and the final color being applied at station H, the completed sock being removed at station I. It will be obvious that the operation at stations F, G, and H is identical to that at stations B, C and D, but if desired different designs may be applied to opposite sides of the sock or a design of only one color or two or more colors might be applied to either side of the sock.

There is thus provided by this invention an apparatus for applying a design to a fabricated, textile fabric such as a sock in a simple and expeditious manner and one which requires no skilled labor, since the manual operations required in performing the dyeing process on this apparatus are merely routine and consist in applying and removing the sock and in drawing the squeegee over the screen to force dye therethrough. I v e It will be ovious to those skilled in the art that various changesmay be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is, not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims. I

What is claimed is: e I

1. Apparatus for design dyeing of fabric articles comprising in combination a frame, a horizontal table rotatably and slidably. mounted on said frame, article receiving boards secured to said table and extending radially therefrom, means on said boards to facilitate the positioning of articles thereon at the proper location, a plurality of dye applying means supported above said boards, said dye applying means comprising a rectangular frame, a screen secured to the lower surface of said frame, said screen being coated with a material impervious to the dye except in a portion forming the outline of the design to be applied, a squeegee disposed in said frame and contacting the upper surface of said screen whereby movement of said squeegee over said screen will force dye through the open design portionthereof, means for raising said boardsand articles received thereon into engagement with the lower surface of said screen, said last named means comprising a pneumatic cylinder and piston, electric control means for said raising means comprising solenoid operated valves, a foot control therefor and limit switch means rendering said valves inoperative when said boards are improperly positioned to engage said screens, an aperture in said table corresponding to each board, a tapered pin'constructed and arranged to enter said aperture uponraising of said table whereby said boards willbe accurately positioned to obtain proper registration of said designon said article,and means com-' prising a blower and heating element constructed and arranged to direct warm air onto said design subsequent to application thereof whereby said design will be dried prior to application of another color or removal from the apparatus.

, :2; Apparatusfor design dyeing of fabric articles comprising in combination aframe, a horizontal table rotatably and slidably mounted on said frame, article receiving boards secured to said table and extending radially therefrom, means on said boards to facilitate the'positioning of articles thereon at the proper location, a plurality of dye applying means supported above said'boards said dye applying means comprising a rectangular frame, a screen secured to the lower surface of said frame, said screen being coated with a material impervious to the dye except in a portion forming the outline of the design to be applied, a squeegee disposed in said frame and contacting the upper surface of said screen whereby movement of said squeegee over said screen will force dye through the open design portion of said screen, means for raising said boards and articles received thereon into engagement with the lower surface of said, screen, said last-named means comprising a pneumatic cylinder and piston, electric control means for said raising means comprising solenoid operated valves, a foot control therefor, and limit switch means rendering said valves inoperative when said boardsare improperly positioned to engage said screens, an aperture in said table corresponding to each board, a tapered pin constructed and arranged to enter said aperture upon raising of said table whereby said boards will be accurately positioned to obtain proper registration of said design on said article.

3. Apparatus for design dyeing of fabric articles comprising. in combination'a frame, a table rotatably and slidably mounted on'said frame, article receiving boards secured to said table and extending radially therefrom, dye applying means supported above said boards said dyeapplying means including a screen impervious to the passage of dye therethrough except in a portion forming the outline of the design to be applied, means constructed and arranged to force dye through the design portion 'of said screen, means for raising said articles into engagement with the surfaceof said screen, an electrical cir-'- cuit including a foot operated switch for controlling the operation of said raising means, a limit switch in said circuit operable for rendering said raising means operative when said boards are properly positioned with relation to said screen, said limit switch comprising a fixedcontact and a movable contact, an actuating arm operatively associated with said movable con tact, a pin secured to said table corresponding SaidlbOardSsaid dye applying means including a screen impervious to thepassage of dye' therethrough except in a portion forming the outline of the design to be applied, means constructed and arranged to force dyethrough thedesign portion of said screen, a fluid pressure cylinder,

and means in said circuit for rendering said valves operative when said boards are properly positioned with relation to said screens.

5., An" apparatus for design dyeing of fabric articles comprising in combination a frame, a table rotatably and slidably mounted on said frame, article receiving boards secured to said table and extending radially therefrom, dye applying means supported above said boards, said dye applying means including a screen impervious to the passage of dyetherethrough except in a portion forming the outline of the design to be applied, means constructed and arranged to force dye through the design portion of said screen,,means for raising said articles into engagement with the surface ofrsaid screen, a foot pedal operatively connected with said raising means for controlling the operation thereof, means operatively connected with, said raising means and controlled by said table for rendering said raising;,means operative when saidboards are properly positioned with relation to said screens, means operatively associated with said table to accurately position said boards upon movement thereof relative to said screens, and means constructed and arranged to dry said dye subsequent to the application thereof to said articles. s

6. Apparatus for design dyeing of fabric articles comprising in combination a frame, a table rotatably mounted on said frame, article receiving members secured to said table and extending radially therefrom, dye applying means supported above said members said dye applying means including a screen having-a portion form ing the outline of the design to be applied, means constructed and arranged to force dye through the design portion of said screen, means for moving said members toward said screens, means for controlling the operation of said moving means, and means operatively connected with said controlling means and actuated by said table for rendering the controlling means operative when said members are properly positioned relative to said screen. i

7, Apparatus for design dyeing of fabric articlescomprising in combination a frame, a table rotatably mounted on said frame, articlereceiving members secured to said table and extending radially therefrom, dye applying means supported above said members, said dye applying means including ascreen having a portion forming the outline of the design to be applied, means constructed and arranged to force dye through V the operation of said contact producing means,

and means operatively connected-with said con,-

trolling, means and actuated by -said tablefor rendering the controlling means operative when said members are. properly positioned relative to said screen, and means for accurately positioning said members relative to said screen.

8. An apparatus for design dyeing of fabric articles comprising in combination a frame, means on said frame to support said articles, dye applying means supported adjacent said article supporting means, means to move said article support relative to said dye applying means, control means operatively connected with said moving means and controlled by said article supporting means for rendering said moving means operative when said article supporting mean is properly positioned relative to said dye applying means, means constructed and arranged to accurately position said article support with respect to said dye applying means upon relative movement thereof, and means constructed and arranged to dry said dye subsequent to the application thereof to said articles.

9. An apparatus for design dyeing of fabric articles comprising in combination a frame, means on said frame to support said articles, dye applying means supported adjacent said article supporting means, means to move said article support into engagement with said dye applying means, control means operatively connected with said moving means and controlled by said article supporting means to render said moving means operative when said article supporting means is properly positioned relative to said dye applying means, and means constructed and arranged to dry said dye subsequent to the application thereof to said articles.

SHEPARD B. SCHWARTZ.

ROBERT D. BLUM, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record. in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,510 Stebbins Mar. 12, 1840 2,359,825 Campbell Oct. 10, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 306,511 Great Britain Mar. 27, 1930 

